Roommates

"Gentlemen, ladies, please pay attention!"

The female prefect, Penelope Clearwater, smiled sweetly as she addressed Li Wei and the other ten new students:

"Your luggage has already been placed in your dormitories. The boys' and girls' dormitories are upstairs from the common room. Boys to the left, girls to the right, three to a room. Visiting one another is forbidden."

"It's getting late. Sweet dreams!"

"At eight tomorrow morning, you will have your first class at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

"Before then, please get up on time and head to the Great Hall for breakfast. Your schedules will be handed out tomorrow morning!"

"Finally, good night, and sweet dreams!"

After saying that, she smiled at Li Wei, then led the girls among the new students and the other Ravenclaw girls toward the girls' dormitories on the right.

"Gentlemen, please follow me!"

Prefect Robert also spoke to Li Wei and the other male first-years, leading them toward the boys' dormitories.

As they headed upstairs, Michael Corner, the dark-skinned boy who had spoken earlier beside Li Wei, bumped Li Wei's arm with a mischievous grin.

"Hey, bro! That answer earlier was brilliant!"

Michael struck up a conversation with Li Wei as if they had known each other for ages.

"I'm sure you could have answered it too if you'd had more time to think. The time limit was just a little tight!"

Li Wei naturally knew how to socialize. Everyone liked flattering words.

"That just proves your brain works fast!"

Michael was good with words too.

But his attention was clearly not on the earlier intelligence quiz. He pointed toward the girls' dormitories on the right and whispered:

"That prefect earlier was really pretty. Do you think she has someone she likes?"

Li Wei was speechless. Come on, they were only eleven, okay? Could magic somehow speed up maturity too?

"I think the older students are simply fulfilling their duties out of kindness. They probably prefer spending time with people their own age."

Li Wei could only put it tactfully. Who did Michael think he was, some overpowered protagonist? He was actually thinking of hitting on a girl four years older than him.

Still, Li Wei vaguely remembered that Ginny Weasley, the future wife of the Savior who would enroll next year, seemed to have had several ex-boyfriends. The one that had left the deepest impression on him seemed to have been Black.

Could it be you, Michael Corner?

On closer inspection, although Michael Corner was darker-skinned, his features were indeed more refined than those of many other Black people, rather than rugged.

Since Michael Corner had been sorted into Ravenclaw, he naturally understood Li Wei's tactful implication. He did not mind at all. Instead, he casually patted Li Wei's shoulder and said in an exaggerated tone:

"Hey bro, dream bigger!"

(Hey, bro, dream bigger!)

"I just don't want to dream big about that sort of thing!"

Li Wei complained expressionlessly, though he found it rather amusing inside.

Prefect Robert quickly assigned the dormitories. Li Wei, Michael Corner, and a blond, blue-eyed little boy named Anthony Goldstein were assigned to the same room.

The moment Li Wei pushed open the dormitory door, Nami the Purrloin leaped into his arms.

"Pah-shoo~"

Nami lay in Li Wei's arms aggrievedly, looking up at him with a pair of watery emerald-green eyes.

Since coming to this world, this was the first time she had been separated from her master, Li Wei, for so long!

"Aww, my poor little baby!"

In an instant, Li Wei became a devoted cat servant. He hurriedly began coaxing Nami in the tone one would use on a baby:

"I couldn't help it! You have to forgive me, Nami! Pets weren't allowed at the opening feast. What a terrible rule! Are you hungry, sweetheart? Look, I brought you back a fish steak!"

As he spoke, Li Wei opened a carton of Moomoo Milk and placed it, along with a fragrant grilled fish steak, before Nami.

Little Nami was somewhat hungry too. The sight of delicious food immediately made her forget her earlier grievance, and she happily began to eat.

"Li Wei, is this your pet? A purple cat? Is it some kind of magical creature?"

Michael Corner, who had already gotten familiar with Li Wei, asked curiously.

"I don't know either. Nami just suddenly appeared, and she's been following me ever since!"

Li Wei casually made up a lie. The Dumbledore family could summon a Phoenix whenever they needed one!

What was wrong with having a Pokémon keep me company when I was lonely? It was perfectly normal. This was a magical world, after all!

"To my knowledge, none of the existing feline magical creatures have purple fur. Of course, it could also be the effect of magic."

Anthony Goldstein suddenly interjected.

He spoke with rigorous seriousness, completely unlike Michael Corner's carefree manner.

"Maybe. Anyway, Nami is my partner!"

Li Wei answered casually, then greeted Goldstein as well. "Hello, I'm Lee Wickens. We'll be roommates from now on!"

"Anthony Goldstein. It's a pleasure to meet you both and to share a dormitory with you!"

Anthony shook Li Wei's hand, a bright smile appearing on his face.

"I'm Michael Corner. For the next seven years, we'll be roommates sharing the same room! Please take care of me!"

Michael Corner said with a lively smile.

Li Wei and Anthony both nodded amicably. After chatting for a while, everyone began unpacking and arranging their little homes at Hogwarts according to their own habits.

Li Wei had prepared for this long ago.

He had ordered the necessary supplies from the shop well in advance, especially bed curtains that could be hung around the four-poster beds.

The pale blue curtains were embroidered with silver stars and golden moons, matching the overall style of the Ravenclaw Common Room perfectly.

He had selected four similar sets of bed curtains and put them in the shop's cart, one corresponding to each House. This one was for Ravenclaw.

The curtains came with permanent magical effects: soundproofing, dust removal, light blocking, and sleep inducement. Once hung, they formed a closed private space. They had cost Li Wei a full week's wages!

After setting up his little home, the three roommates wished one another good night, then all lay down in bed, ready to sleep.

Li Wei also lay down in the small bed enclosed by his curtains. However, instead of immediately falling asleep under their sleep-inducing effect, he opened the MOD System.